On July 2, as the traditional tassel on graduation caps was moved from right to left at Fudan University, the commencement ceremony took on a special resonance.
Standing at the podium as the international student representative for the Class of 2026, Abou Biridogo delivered a moving speech in fluent Mandarin, marking a profound milestone in his journey.
For Abou, a Master’s graduate from the School of Journalism, this moment was the culmination of a nine-year journey in China that began with a childhood fantasy.
Growing up in Mali, he watched Jackie Chan movies and became convinced that China was a land of martial arts masters.
“I thought everyone could fly,” Biridogo laughed, recalling his first impressions. “When I arrived, I realized no one was flying. But I fell in love with the country anyway.”
From a student who once struggled with the language to a researcher whose work on TikTok’s impact on Mali’s news ecosystem has been accepted by the International Communication Association’s 2026 annual conference, his story is one of persistence and bridging cultures.
The “Effort” Behind the Language
Abou’s fluency in Chinese today belies a difficult start. When he first arrived in Wuhan in 2015, the language seemed impossibly difficult.
“I thought, ‘This language is too hard. I should just go home,’” he confessed.
His breakthrough came from sheer determination and a refusal to be shy. His Chinese name, 白瑞德 (Bái Ruìdé), was given to him by his first teacher in China, Ms.Li, during that initial preparatory year. Abou embraced the name, repeating it constantly to his classmates until they remembered him.
He adopted a simple but effective strategy: he would speak Chinese to everyone, regardless of whether they understood him or not. “I didn’t care if they understood me or not,” he said. “I just had to speak.”
His persistence paid off. Within a few months, his confidence grew, and he began to find his rhythm, eventually using his language skills to connect with friends across the country.
The Road to Fudan
Abou’s academic path in China was not a straight line. After earning his bachelor’s in Communication in Beijing, he relocated to Shanghai to further his study.
His decision to pursue a Master’s degree at Fudan came on the advice of Ms. Li. “She told me, ‘If you want to continue in journalism, choose Fudan.’” Abou recalled.
When studying at Fudan’s School of Journalism, he sat in the front row of almost every class and actively engaged with professors. “I disturbed many teachers with questions,” he admitted with a smile. “But they were willing to share.”
Abou’s academic focus has been on the changing media landscape in his home country. His Master’s thesis, which has been accepted by the International Communication Association (ICA) 2026 Annual Conference, explores the impact of TikTok on Mali’s news ecosystem.
His research highlights a significant shift from traditional media to grassroots digital platforms in Mali. To conduct this research, he utilized a mixed-method approach, analyzing high-traffic videos and distributing surveys via WeChat groups to reach users in Mali.
“Young people in Mali are using TikTok to verify information,” Abou explained. “Many of them use TikTok to debunk fake news and share the truth.” He is pleased and grateful that his paper was accepted by an international conference.
The Marathon of Life
Beyond the classroom, Abou found a parallel lesson in discipline through long-distance running.
His grit on the track started with a humbling moment on the football field. In 2015 in China, his coach had the team run laps, but he couldn’t complete one. “I thought, ‘I have to practice this,’” he remembered.
He began building his endurance lap by lap—two at first, then adding one each week until he hit 30 minutes straight. That foundation carried him to Beijing marathon groups and, ultimately, to a 2.5-hour finish at the full marathon in Wuxi and a 1:23 half-marathon in Beijing.
Medals Abou won in long-distance running
Running is like his character. Whether it is learning Chinese or running 42 kilometers, he made it through effort, and then more effort.
Abou was running on Fudan campus (4th from right)
This same discipline shaped his daily rhythm: up early for exercise, cooking, and a shower before heading to work. Evenings were no less productive—after finishing his internship tasks, he would head to the library or the northern canteen at Fudan to chip away at his thesis.
When graduation approached, he channeled that energy into a sweeping job hunt, interviewing with roughly 100 companies across education, sports, and media.
He eventually landed at a Chinese enterprise with business ties to West Africa, where colleagues welcomed him as their first foreign hire. “They’re very friendly,” he said.
“Fudan Changed My Life”
As he prepares to leave campus, Abou expressed deep gratitude for the support system that helped him succeed, specifically mentioning his supervisor, Professor XU Yan.
“Professor Xu is like a mother to me here,” he said. “Whenever I said, ‘I can’t make it,’ she always said, ‘You can do it.’ She always believed in me.”
Looking ahead, Abou aims to use his position to foster better understanding and business cooperation between China and Mali.
“Fudan changed my life,” he concluded. “It made me believe that no matter where you come from, if you are willing to come, Fudan will give you a platform.”
(END)
Writer: WANG Mengqi
Editor: LI Yijie
